The truth in your eyes

Solangelo Royalty AU

Will is the crown prince of his kingdom and his parent's wish to find him a bride; he's less than enthusiastic about it. Until his eyes meet the most beautiful eyes he has ever seen, deep dark pools of onyx that he wants to get lost in.

Nico is the prince of his own kingdom far away from Will's borders and their paths would never have crossed if Nico wasn't on the run. For now he goes by Maria and together with his loyal guard Reyna he must run from those who would see him dead.

Chapter 1 Beginning of a journey

Screaming, that was what he kept hearing every time he closed his eyes. Screaming of those around him crying for help or mercy, the screaming of his sister as she reached for their mother, the screaming of their father as he tried to reach them, his own screams as he watched his mother and sister slaughtered before him.

He couldn't hear anything after that, his mind had shut down. He didn't remember his father rushing in in time to fend off the next attack that was aimed at him as he sat there paralyzed with shock. He didn't remember his father issuing orders for the guards to get him to safety or even when someone lifted him into their arms and ran with him cradled to their chest. He didn't even remember blacking out.

By the time Nico had woken up, he was far away from the only home he had ever known. He sat up in a bed he didn't recognize, his throat still felt raw from his screaming and his head hurt from where they had hit him, he raised a hand to the injury to find that it had been bandaged while he was asleep.

He looked over when he heard someone enter the room, his heart pounded in his chest and he pressed himself closer to the wall as the person approached the bed he was in. It was a girl possibly five or so years older than him, she had long dark hair that hung in a braid over her shoulder, she had dark brown eyes and bore a slight resemblance to his sister Bianca, at that thought the events of the night before came rushing back to him and his breathing became erratic as he clutched at his head in pain.

The girl had been holding a tray but she set it down on a small table nearby and rushed over to him to make sure that he was alright.

"Your Highness, please calm down, you're safe now." She placed a warm hand on his back and started to rub it gently in a calming gesture and continued to murmur reassurances to him that he was safe until he calmed down and was able to take somewhat normal breaths again.

"Where am I?" he croaked after taking one more shuddering breath. The girl had a sad look in her eyes as she spoke to him.

"You're in my home, my mother is a soldier and she has taught me well, I was going to enlist to be a palace guard but I was only there for a short amount of time, when the attack came I rushed you out and brought you here to keep you safe." She moved away from him as she stood back from the bed. "My name is Reyna, and I swear that no matter what, I will do everything I can to keep you safe you're Highness." She pressed her fist to her heart and knelt on the floor before him.

He regarded her as she remained bowed before him; the sincerity in her voice and her eyes was clear as she looked at him, as was the concern that also burned there as she watched him, silently making sure that he was not in pain. Even though they had never met before it was clear that she had done much to protect him already and he felt that he could truly trust her.

"Thank you Reyna." he said, his voice still felt broken but he needed to at least say that much to her after everything she had already done for him.

Reyna nodded and stood once more then went over to the small table and grabbed the tray and brought it over to the bed. She placed it in front of Nico and handed him the cup of water for him to drink.

He accepted it gratefully and was so thankful for the cool water that soothed his throat. Even though he was scared to know the answer he really needed to know what had happened to his father. So when Reyna took the cup back from him he cleared his throat as best he could before asking.

"Wh…what happened to my father?" he saw the pain in Reyna's eyes but she assured him that the king was alright.

"Your father lives, he was wounded but nothing serious, he sent a message with instructions to get you someplace safe, he said that no matter how long it takes, you are not to return to the palace until this threat is over." She set her lips in a hard line as she seemed to run things though her mind.

Nico may have been young, but he still knew that Reyna would have to fallow his father's instructions no matter what, even if that meant leaving the only home she's ever known and giving up her everyday life and possible future to look after him.

Nico felt terrible about that, she had only just become a member of the royal guard and now she was being asked to give up everything for him. No matter what it took Nico told himself that he was going to repay her someday.

"Reyna…" he said, and she looked at him waiting for him to continue speaking. "I'm sorry you got dragged into this mess." Nico didn't even know he had been crying until Reyna wiped away his tears before she enveloped him in a warm hug just like his sister or mother would have to comfort him.

"You have nothing to be sorry about your highness. None of this is your fault. Don't worry about me; this was what I've been training for and I'd willingly lay down my life for you." Nico felt a cold chill go through him and he pulled away with a stricken look on his face.

"Don't say that, I don't want anyone else to die for me…" he felt the sobs shaking his body as once more he was overwhelmed by the memories of his mother and sister being murdered before him.

Reyna understood immediately and made sure that he met her gaze as she spoke to him.

"Your highness, don't worry, my job is to make sure that you are safe no matter what and I have no intention of dying anytime soon. I will personally see to it that you make it home to your father safely no matter how long it takes, this I swear to you."

Nico nodded as he once again calmed himself down.

"Could you not call me 'Your highness' anymore, could you just call me Nico?" he asked. He didn't feel much like royalty and he didn't want Reyna to have to be so formal with him all of the time, especially if it was just going to be the two of them. He wanted to be friends if possible. Reyna seemed to understand and nodded.

"Okay Nico, I know I could never replace anyone, and I won't try to, but feel free to think of me as your big sister if that helps, okay?"

This time Nico nodded, he rather liked that plan. Maybe this way he wouldn't feel so alone.

"Do you have any brothers or sisters?" he asked and Reyna nodded.

"One sister, she's older than me and I haven't seen her for a while but she is really strong and brave and I hope to be just like her."

Nico could understand that feeling; he had looked up to Bianca like that too.

"But for now you need to regain your strength, so eat and then get some more rest. We can't stay here any longer than we need to, it won't be safe for much longer." With that she stood up once more and brought the tray with a bowl of broth over for him and set it down in front of him. Nico accepted it and did as he was instructed; he was determined not to be a burden on Reyna.

Once he had finished the contents of the bowl he moved the tray away and lay back down in the bed. Reyna took the tray away and left the room, keeping the door open just in case he needed to call out to her at any point. Nico hoped that he had a dreamless sleep as his heavy eyelids slid closed and the world went dark once again.

I've been busy these past few days with ideas galore so I'm sorry but there might be a lot of new stories and few updates to others for the time being, I just really need to get these ideas out of my head and I only update what has enough (according to me) for a full chapter and some of my other ones aren't quite there yet.

So sorry if this annoys anyone but this is how it works with me, I hope you like this story and If the summary isn't satisfactory because it's more about what happens later in the story I'm sorry but it's the stories summary not this chapter's so that's just how it goes.

In case you are wondering, Nico is about 10 or 11 in the first chapter, Reyna is about 15 or 16.

The next chapter is going to be a few years later.

Please let me know what you think, I might have to log off for tonight because I think it's thunder storming and it's almost 2 am, goodnight peoples!